Dental articulator



Sept. 15, 1925. I 1,553,492

F. L. WILLIAMS DENTAL ARTI CULATOR Filed Dec. 20, 25 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. L .lV/LL/AMS ATTORNEY.

Sept. 15, 1925. Y 1,553,492

F. L. WILLIAMS DENTAL ARTICULATOR 6 Filed Dec. 20. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. E L VV/LL mms A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES FRANK L. WILLIAMS, or DENVER, coLoRADo.

DENTAL ARTICULATOR.

Application filed December 20, 1923. Serial at. 681,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. \VILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Articulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dental articulators and more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in dental instruments of the construction illustrated and described in my applications for patent- Serial No. 458,674, filed April 5, 1921, and Serial No. 580,717, filed August 9, 192

The object of the present improvements is to simplify the construction, facilitate the adjustment and operation and generally enhance the practicability and usefulness of an instrument of the type disclosed in the applications for patent above referred to. I

An embodiment ofv the present invention has been shown in the accompanying drawings in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the instrument; I

Figure 2, a top View of the same;

Figure 3, a vertical section in the plane indicated by the line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4, a sectional plan view of one of the model holding members of the instru' ment taken on the line 4-4:, Figure 3;

Figure 5, an elevation similar to that shown in Figure 1 but drawn to a reduced scale, illustrating the use of a measuring device in the place of the upper model-support, for the purpose of locating artificial teeth in a dental model on the'lower support;

Figure 6, a section along the line 6%6, Figure 1; and

Figure 7, an enlarged section taken on the line 77, Figure 3.

Referring further to the drawings, 5 designates the longitudinally grooved and slotted body member of a standard which by means of a threeway joint 6 is mounted on a clamp 7 adapted to rigidly fasten the instrument in an upright position at the end of a table, workbench or the like.

An extension member 8 slidably fitted in the groove of the standard has a longitudinal rack 9, and a pinion 10 meshing with,

the rack, is mounted on a headed shaft 12 which is supported on the body member in v bearings at opposite sides of the slotted groove thereof. A nut 13011 the shaft 12,-

is provided to hold the stationary member 8 in position. I

An adjustable scale 14 on the member 5 co-operates with an index'15 on the relatively movable extension member 8 to indie cate the measured position of the one with relation to the other.

The parts so far described are similar to the corresponding parts of the construc- 'tions disclosed in the aboveinentioned applications for patent and the present improvements reside particularly in the modelsupports and the method of fastening them to the members of the standard. Y i

The two model-supports are fastened at the outer ends of arms 16 and 17 which ex tend forwardly from the upper end of the rack-bar 8 and from the lower end of the fixed part 5 of the standardrespectively.

The arm 17 of the lower model-support is rigidly fastened to the standard by means of a pin 18 but the arm 16 of the upper model-support is detachably and adjustably fastened at the upper end of the sliding ex tension member 8 of the standard as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The upper and lower model supports are identical in construction-and similar reference numerals have been used to indicate the corresponding parts of the two supports in the drawings.

Each model support comp-rises a base plate 19 which by 'nreans of a laterally pro jecting pin 20 is mounted for'rotary adjustment on aknuckle' 21 of ahinge-joint by which the support is fastened to the respective arm of the standard. I The knuckle is movably fitted in a slotat the forward'end of the arm at substantially right anglesthereto and it is pivotally 0011- nected with the arm by a transverse hinge 7 a correspondingly threaded opening at the opposite side of the arm to clamp the knuckle in its adjusted positions. r The pin 20 vof the base plate which extends'lo'osely' through a bore of the knuckle,

is threaded at its extremity,a nd a nut 241 is screwed upon the pinto fasten the base plate in place by en surface ofthe knuckle.

A transverse bar 25. on each arm has 1 7 gag'e'ment with the outer PM) f threaded apertures at opposite sides thereof.

for the accommodation of headed set-screws 26 which engage the base-plate of the respective model-support.

A plate 27 upon which, in-p-ractice, the

dental model is fastened, is supported upon the base plate of each model-support and the surface of the base plate. to clamp theplate in its. adjusted position.

The, dental I models designated in the drawings by the reference characters 30 and 31, arefastened uponthe plates 27 ofthe respective supports by waXor other-(suitable adhesive shown, at '32. The plates 27 have one or' more apertures in which the Waxmayanchor, andthe baseplates are provided with, openings to lightenthe instrument'and to afford access to. the apertures of theplates ,which are superimposed thereon. i

Theextension, membenS of the standard has at its upperextremityan arm 38 which extends rearwardly and at right angles theretowfor the support of the means by which: thefupper, model-support is adjustably connected with the member. v

Tliemeans above referred to comprise a bar34'which is slidably vfitted in a longitudinal groove offdove-tailsection formed in the upper surface of the arm 33,,a head 35 rigidly fastened vat ,,an. -end of the slide bar has bore.- to receivea correspondingly formedgudgeon 36 at the end of thearm 16 on. which the. upper model support is mounted, and a set screw 37 on thetheadengag ng in a, circumferential ,groove ofith'e gudgeon, fastens the arm against longitudinal displacement;

Thehead is furthermoreprovided with a. dowel v38 which fitsuin an apertureof the arm 16' to hold the latter against rotation.

A- rack 39 fastened ,upon the upper surfaeetof; the dove tail slide bar 34 is engaged I by a pinion 4O' on azheaded shaft 41 which, is rotatablysupported in bearings 43, at 0pposite sides of the slideway of the arm 33 of the extensionbarB. A a t The shaft 7 is threaded; at its end and a nut 42 screwed on the shaft engages with the adjacent bearing to fastenthe-rack in place by clamping the pinion against rotation.

A fillet 44 ,in the dove-tail groove, en-

gaged by set-screws 45, provides a conveni'ent means for fittmgtherack barso as to avoid lateral play.

tersfPatent (is 1 to establish the; position ofthe bar relative to the arm; according to predetermined measurements.

In the operation of the instrument, the Width angle and relative positions of artificial teeth on a dental model fastened upon the lower model-support are determined through the medium of an indicatory device 48 which is fastened to the head 35 of the sliding bar 34 at theupper end of the slid-H ing member of the standard by the set screw 3721s shown in Figure 5 of the drawings;

Theindicatory device includes-a pointer 49 and a plurality of scales which determine theposition of the pointeraccording to measurements given in geometric charts furnished with the instrument;

The specific construction of the indicate ing device has been fullydeseribed in prior; applications for patent and doesnot form; part of the presentinvention.

The operation of the measuring device'requires that the dental model: 30 on; the lower;

support be adjustedto a 'centrahposition relative to the vertical vanis of thepointer and to an occlusal planewco-incident with that in which its pointer movesto indicate the position and propo -rtions ofthe teeth, and this requirementis readily attai-ned by;

the adjustmentsof'the plates-19 and 27 of the model-support hereinabove described, it being observedthat the set screWsQS 00-7- operate with the lint/1242 011 the pivot pin '20 and with the, threaded hinge pinz 22 to adjust the plates to the plane of thepointer, v

and that the nuts 29 on the screw-studs 28 provide for lateral adjustment of the nod'el on the base plate; V I

The central position of the indicating dee vice relative to .themodel is establishedibys;

longitudinal adjustment [of :the a sliding ;b a r ,i h

84'on the arm; 83"of,the.extension member 8, andthejscale 46"co-operates with the pointer 47 to accurately indicate-the posis tion of the pointer relative to: the mo delacc ording to a fixed-standard of measurement.

After the teeth have model through the instrumentality of the measuring device, the latteris removed from the head of the; slide,-bar34 and the upper model support is fastenedin the place there-T. of as shown in the drawings, 1

The upper model. 31 is placedin, its, proper position relative to the low enmodel concerning the placement of the, lower" model with relation to; the measuring instru ment and thefteeth are subsequently locatedin the uppermodel in accordancewith the been set in the lower, v

by the adjustments hereinbefore described position of the teeth on the: lower modeld Having" thus described, my invention? What I claim. and

1. An instrument of the character dee desire to ,sec ure by Let-Q scribed comprising a standard including an adjustable extension provided with a rearwardly extending arm having a longitudinal slideway, a model-support on the standard, a bar slidably mounted on the arm, a device cooperative with said model-support, connected to the bar, a rack on the bar, and a rotary pinion on the arm, meshing with the rack for adjustment of the bar.

2. An instrument of the character de scribed comprising a standard including an adjustable extension provided with an arm extending at an angle thereto, a model-support on the standard, a bar slidably mounted on the arm, a device co-operative with said model-support, connected to the bar, a rack on the bar, a rotary pinion on the arm, meshing' with the rack for adjustment of the bar, and means for locking the pinion against rotation.

3. An instrument of the character described comprising a standard including an adjustable extension provided with an arm extending at an angle thereto, a model-support on the standard, a bar slidably mounted on the arm, a device co-operative with said model-support, connected to the bar, a grad uated scale on the arm, and a pointer on the bar, co-operating with the scale to determine the'position of the'bar with relation to the arm.

4. An instrument of the character described comprising a standard including an extension which has an arm extending at an angle thereto provided with a longitudinal dove-tail groove, a model-support on the standard, a headed bar slidably fitted in the groove of the arm, and a device co-operative with said model-support, detachably fas tened to the head Ofthe bar.

5. An instrument of the character described comprising a standard including an extension which has an arm extending at an angle thereto provided with a longitudinal dove-tail groove, a model-"support on the standard, a headed bar slidably fitted in the groove of the arm, a device co-operative with said model-support, detachably fastened to the head of the bar, a'fillet in the groove and set screws on the arm engaging the fillet.

scribed, a model-support comprising an arm,

a base plate pivoted at an end thereof, set,

screws on the arm, engaging the base plate, and means for the support of a dental model on the base plate.

7. In an instrument of the character described, a model-support comprising an arm, a base plate pivoted at an end thereof, set screws on the arm, engaging the base plate, and means to adjustably support a dental model on the base plate. J o

8. In an instrument of the character described, a model-support comprising an arm a knuckle hinged at an end thereof, a base plate having a rotary adjustment on the knuckle, set-screws on the arm, acting upon the base plate, and means for the support of a dental model on the base plate.

9. In an instrument of the character de- 60 6. In an instrument of the character de scribed, a model-support comprising an arm,

a knuckle hinged at an end thereof, a base plate having a rotary adjustment on the knuckle, a transverse member on the arm, set screws on said member, acting upon the base plate, and means for the support of a dental model on the base plate.

10. In an instrument of the character described, a model-support comprising an arm, a bored knucklehinged at an end thereof, means for fixing the knuckle in an adjusted position on the arm, a base plate having a threaded pivot pin in a bore of the knuckle,

a nut on the pin to clamp the base plate in an adjusted position on the knuckle, set screws on the arm, acting on the base plate,

and means for the support of a dental model on the base plate. I

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

FRANK L. WILLIAMS; 

